Novelpolyelectrolytescomplex(PEC)/11-phosphotungsticacidhydrate(PW11) hybridmembranes(PEC/
PW11) werepreparedbyblendingsodiumalginate(SA)andgelatin(GE),followedbyincorporatingwith
PW11, andthencrosslinkingby g-Glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane(GPTEOS).Structuresofthe
membraneswerecharacterizedbyX-raydiffraction(XRD),FT-IR,thermogravimetry(TG),scanning
electronmicroscopy(SEM),atomicforcemicroscopy(AFM)andcontactanglegoniometermethods.
The characterizationresultsdemonstratedthattheamorphousregionsinthemembraneand
hydrophilicityofthemembraneenhancewithincreasingPW11 content;thermalstabilityofthe
membranestrengthenedwiththeintroducingofPW11; PW11 washomogeneouslydispersedinthePEC
matrix whenPW11 contentwasnohigherthan9wt%.Swellingexperimentsshowedthatthedegreeof
swelling(DS)ofthePEC/PW11 hybridmembranesincreasedwithincreasingPW11 contentorwater
contentinfeed.SorptionexperimentsdemonstratedthatwhenPW11 wasnomorethan9wt%,boththe
sorptionselectivityanddiffusionselectivityincreasewithincreasingPW11 content,thendecreasewith
further increasingPW11 content.PEC/PW11 hybrid membranecontaining9wt%PW11 exhibitedthebest
pervaporationperformance,whoseaveragedpermeationfluxwas0.440kg/m2/h andseparationfactor
was 144for90wt%aqueoussolutionofaceticacidat50 1C.